baby ain't nothing like the real thing ain't nothing like the real thing baby ain't nothing like the real thing ain't nothing like the real thing baby ain't nothing like the real thing ♪ [applause] [applause] katie: that was great. that was so great. you guys sounded terrific. still hitting those high notes. you sound amazing. melanie, thank you so much for coming. thanks to both of you for coming today. michael, we really enjoyed talking to you. we want to thank mary j. blige and angela bassett as well. that does it for us. thank you for watching. that does it for us. thank you for watching. i will see you

preemptive strike to protect itself. martha raddatz, abc news, washington. >> that's important. early reports sort of were, were suggesting that perhaps israel was getting involved in the inner workings of the syrian war. that now we know is not necessarily the case. >> nobody wants to touch that. but in terms of getting too deeply involved. even the u.s. has been very kind of wary about how deeply they're going to get involved in this. the real issue, if assad loses control and those weapons he has get into the wrong hand that's when the situation turns much

more grave, much more serious, potentially volatile and that could be the turning point that would draw the u.s. more deeply into syria if the weapons, chemical ones get into the hand of the radical groups. keeping an eye on that for sure. in brazil, talk about pointing the finger. the owner of the nightclub where more than 230 people were killed in a horrifying fire, is blaming the whole country for the tragedy. fire swept through the kiss club on sunday. investigators found all kind of violations including overcrowding and a lack of emergency exits. now the owner believes it was up to the public inspectors to make sure the building was safe. unbelievable. in florida, a request to delay the trial of florida gunman george zimmerman. attorneys say they need more time to prepare their case. they claim the prosecution is slow to turn over evidence. the lead attorney also renewed his request for donations saying it could cost up to $1 million

to defend zimmerman. who is accused of killing teenager trayvon martin. news from the super bowl this week. 49ers defensive back, chris culver apologizing for a controversial comment he made about gays. drafted by the niners two years ago. on tuesday he said he would not welcome a gay player in the locker room. that if the 49ers had any gay players they should leave the team. last night though culver said he is sorry, calling his remarks, hurtful and ugly. the team is not saying if heave will be disciplined. perhaps he forgot what city he plays for. not exactly homophobic city of san francisco. man. severe storms ripped through the south and midwest are being blamed for at least two deaths. there were two dozen reports of tornados including one that touched down in northern georgia tossing around cars, trucks and trees. an uprooted tree crushed a mobile home killing a man inside. another man died in tennessee

when the tree fell on the shed where he was seeking shelter. with that here is your thursday forecast, everybody. hope for a calmer day. that severe weather is moving up the east coast with powerful wind from atlanta to boston. we also have heavy rain in d.c., new jersey, and new york. more than a foot of lake-effect snow around western pennsylvania, upstate new york and michigan. rain and mountain snow in the northwest. 50s from seattle to portland. 15 below zero in fargo. single digits. indianapolis, omaha. 50s and falling in the northeast. >> very different day here than yesterday. for sure. >> yes. another from the, "we wouldn't show it to you if it didn't go in" file. talking basketball here. the high school variety. >> came right at the end of the first half on tuesday. a game between two team from rhode island, here we go. waiting for it. wait for it here. did we see it? yeah, that was senior ben

gerard, merville high school, the captain, leading scorer, player of the game. see it again. there, missed it the first time. >> that may be luck. you don't practice that shot, right. that may not be skill. luck. >> everybody in their backyard hoop, school, practices the half court hoop. >> that wasn't like a. >> it's not finesse from half court. he got it in. all that counts. nice going, dude. coming up next, better protection for pro football players after so many head injuries on the field. >> major food fight over frozen pizza and the critical claims they are full of poison. you are watching "world news now." ♪ every minute every second pepperoni ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by colonial penn life insurance.

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california mom is trying to take a slice out of the company that makes half of all frozen pizzas in america. half. she accuses nestle of deliberately poisoning customers. >> the poison in question is transfat. as abc's correspondent reports, her multimillion dollar lawsuit aims to take their whole pie. >> reporter: the pizza companies are coming under fire, a new class action lawsuit claiming the maker of the popular pizza brands are a danger to public health. taking on nestle who produces all three brands, katie simpson of san diego. in the lawsuit she just filed she argues the company is placing profits over public health by not removing transfats

from their pizzas. katie has two young children and she likes to make pizza for them. and all kids love pizza. it shouldn't have a toxic food additive banned in many parts of the world. >> reporter: california followed by 13 cities across the u.s. bans transfats in food served in restaurants because they raise bad cholesterol and lower the good kind. there are no bans on transfats in packaged food. the fda and usda only require that companies list all ingredients on the label. still, when simpson was buying her favorite frozen pizzas she says, she had no idea they contained what the suit calls a toxic carcinogen. >> we are seeking all the money nestle made selling frozen pizza. >> reporter: in 2005, mcdonald paid $8.5 million to pay two lawsuits. but will this pizza suit get tossed out of court?

nestle tells abc news we will vigorously defend ourselves against all baseless allegations all our pizza product are in strict compliance with fda and usda regulations. >> you know, i don't think the come pa companies are breaking any fda, labelling regulations. this may do something, cause them to sort of, yeah. rob. >> just so tasty. >> really may make them become better corporate citizens and perhaps change their food and make healthier food for their customers. >> she is taking a stand for an obese nation, i guess. we'll be back in a moment. stay with us. @ñ

as more attention is paid to the long term danger of

concussions to football players the search for solutions is on. >> a pennsylvania company claims its insert for helmets may make a difference. abc's terry moran put it to the test. >> reporter: head injuries and potential lifelong consequences are the biggest threat to america's gridiron heroes. concern is mounting at every level, the nfl, colleges. even high school. >> there is definitely the fear every single time he goes out there and plays. you wonder. >> reporter: concussions are the most common injury among high school football players. so jennifer, president of the warriors booster club decided to do something. she raised money to buy the team helmet inserts made by unequal technologies for added protecti. it is all part of a sort of cottage industry that sprung up to cater to worried parents. unequal technologies one of the highest profile players in the market described its product explicitly as concussion reduction technology or crt.

it is a liner, a strip of composite material including bulletproof kevlar. you stick it inside the helmet. rob vito is founder and ceo of unequal technologies. >> these athletes need to take control of their safety. >> reporter: he worked with scientists s ts to create a mi grade composite material to protect athletes from head to toe. >> the guy would have you believe it is his magical material. there is nothing magical about it. >> reporter: this man is an engineer, technical director at southern impact research center one of the leading testing labs for sports equipment in the nation. among many others things he tests health melts. lots of helmets. you say concussion reduction technology, is that what you are doing? >> our claim is that we help reduce the possibility of head injury. that's our claim. we never mention the word concussion. >> reporter: after our

interview, unequal technology sent us what they say will be their new packaging for their product. the word concussion reduction technology have been removed. for so many football players the risk is real. players and parents want answers. but right now, they aren't out there. >> that magic bullet, that if you just do this, you can continue to play the way you are and you're immune from injury. it just doesn't work. >> any, whatever helps, you look at, junior seau, you go, okay something need to be done. a new era in the nfl in terms of worryin ing ing about player sa. i wonder why concussion reduction language was taken off. >> does the work? that will open you up to all sorts of liability. >> the testing showed it does or doesn't. i guess difficult. whatever helps, the guys. all cheering on our teams

sunday, super bowl. the tolls the guy put on their body. >> put their lives on the line. >> think about that over your chicken wings and pizza. we will be back. and did you see the magic eraser clean up that crazy kitchen mess? it was like super dirty, super clean. how? wish i hadn't. [ sniffs ] what's that amazing smell? it's mr. clean with the amazing scent of gain. wow! you know, if i had a team, you'd be on it. [ gasps ] our mascot could be a cleanosarus rex. you're off the team. [ male announcer ] dirt and grime have nowhere to hide with the mr. clean clean team on your side. [ male announcer ] dirt and grime have nowhere to hide that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, they pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay.

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pantene expert collection. ♪ oh i need someone to read me stories ♪ ♪ oh someone to turn the page ♪ yeah. did you? >> you know i download all the books on my ipad. then i read them all at different times. chapters here. chapters there. if i get bored with one story line the i move on. a little schizophrenic. >> one of these days i will read. >> jimmy kimmel may have treated matt damon terribly keeping him in the green room for ten years or damon says. >> jimmy is loyal to his family, friend and even the family of his friend.

our abc correspondent has the story. ♪ >> reporter: cleto a big part of the jimmy kimmel family. since jimmy was a kid he has been a big part of the family. >> jimmy was at the house every day. slept over our house. i wake up early in the morning the i would hear -- i said that's jimmy. jimmy had a little allergy problem. >> reporter: jimmy's friendship with cleto jr. began when he was 9 years old. when jimmy headed to late night ten years ago he asked cleto to be his bandleader. >> he could have tried to get some body established, helped the show, bigger name, he trusted me with the job. i tried to do the best i can. >> reporter: one of the best things he did was hire his dad to be in the band. >> i look to my left. see him. still get chills. >> reporter: before jimmy kimmel live, cleto sr. worked at

caesar's palace for 30 years, bus boy, room service waiter to head butler. he walked away from a career in music to support his family. >> he never said, you know what i gave up for you? never any of that. that gave me drive in my career. i wanted to succeed so bad for him because what he had given up for our family. >> reporter: now 70, cleto sr. feels blessed. i told him stay gold. i am getting emotional. he has been the greatest son in the world. >> reporter: as for the other son, kimmel. >> we get to see each other every day. it is really. that to me is probably the best thing about doing the show is that, cleto's dad got to be what he was born to be which is a musician. >> i like jimmy more and more. >> yeah. >> the more i learn about him. >> loyal. lot of family love on the show too. very cool. very cool. nicely done, mr. kimmel. more from abc next. >> yes.

this morning on "world news now" -- dramatic demand. gunshot survivor gabrielle giffords returns to capitol hill with a straight forward message. >> she is taking aim at her former colleagues pleading for tougher gun control laws. it is thursday, january 31st. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> oh, our waning hours together here, sunshine. and end of january already. last day of the month. the 1st, tomorrow, moving fast. good morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> i'm telling people that now, good morning. i'm sitting next to you. >> keep it casual. good morning. >> i'm sunny hostin. we'll get reaction to gifford's

comments from capitol hill. then another shooting victim nearly killed by the taliban because she wanted an education. she faces a critical stage of her recovery. what doctors are doing next to help a geirl who has become an inspiration. >> they tried to kill her, had the opposite effect. made her and her message stronger. >> a hero now. >> can't wait to bring you the story coming up in a minute. the young man who made headlines by squatting in a multimillion dollar south florida home hoping to stay there scott free. there has been a may jjor new development. guess how that will end. stick around anyway. >> all the super bowl excitement, the coach's parents express their pride and fans show up to enjoy new orleans hospitality. >> new orleans has the fair share of problems like major metro areas, the one thing my hometown does as well as anybody on the planet is host a big

party. >> always a big party. >> whoo. sorry i scant be there. i am there in spirit. the city is beside itself. carnival on top of the super bowl. good times. first news this morning from washington to newtown, we have heard powerful testimony about the need to stop gun violence. >> advocates on both side of the debate took their strong views to capitol hill. abc's karen travers is covering it all. good morning, karen. >> reporter: good morning, rob. good morning, sunny. there were some tense exchanges on what gun control would look like and who it would target. in a hearing that lasted more than four hours it was the 1:15 from gabrielle giffords that may have overshadowed everything else. gabrielle giffords served as a painful reminder of the effects of gun violence. >> speaking is difficult, but i need to say something important. >> reporter: an emotional appeal for her former colleagues in congress to do what they can to

prevent another tragedy. >> you must act. be bold, be courageous. >> reporter: the nra said the focus should not be on new laws. >> we need to enforce the thousand of gun laws already on the books. >> reporter: it is the mass shootings that capture the nation's attention, but every day the gun violence in the u.s. continues. last week, chicago teenager, was in washington for president obama's inauguration. she was gunned down in a park just a few blocks from her school. the apparent innocent victim of a gang war. president obama made gun control a priority for his second term, pushing lawmakers to pass legislation that will limit number of round in a magazine clip, renew a ban on so-called assault weapons and require universal background checks for gun purchases. the nra says it is no longer on board with that because it just won't work. >> you are never going to get criminals to go through

universal background checks. >> reporter: republicans and even some rural state democrats agree. that is a big challenge for president obama. rob, sunny, become to you. >> all right, thank you, karen. the world's biggest retailer made a decision about ammunition sales. wal-mart customers may buy only three boxes of ammo a day. because of limited supplies these days. with demand up for bullets. wal-mart says it is striking a balance between serving hunters and sportmen and selling firearms responsibly. in newtown, an emotional hearing on gun control wrapped up. among the witnesses, parents who lost their kids in the massacre. one mother called on lawmakers. a few newtown residents spoke out against more restrictions on gun rights. >> if you think about it those parent are still grieving. they're the face, many of them have become the face of this, this gun control issue. i mean, it is what six weeks

ago? that they lost their babies? talking about babies. >> 14th of december, too. and the media spotlight on the community trying to grieve. in the middle of this hot button political issue as well. and it has got to be very hard on the families on multiple levels. still no clear idea where this thing is going to go. there is a lot of speak, talk, lot of political theater. when it actually gets done to nitty-gritty legislation, there is no guarantee just yet what can be accomplished, what there is political will to do and not do on capitol hill. lot of question marks hanging over the political fate of this discussion. >> is it ever going to happen? now would be the time. now would be the time. >> you would think. a healthy debate. in phoenix where police are searching for a 70-year-old man kidded armed and dangerous. one person was killed yesterday, two others wounded when a man, arthur harmon opened fire at a law firm office. it is believed he fled in a rent white car.

in the middle of a lawsuit, and the shooting took place after a mediation session. >> a medical hurdle for a courageous young girl shot in the head by the taliban in pakistan because she wanted in education. the 15-year-old will undergo a final delicate operation before resuming a there mall life. as abc's nick schifrin reports this survivor is truly an inspiration. >> reporter: it will cover a 3 inch wide hole in her skull, caused three months ago after a taliban gunman shot her point-blank. the bullet passed through the red line. yet she survived. as she recuperated she be came a global icon of courage, elegant advocate for girls' education. and once doctor stephen edmondson is done shaping titanium so it fits her skull she can restart her life. >>kconnoiters the school.

it affected her hearing and she will need a cochlear implant. after her surgery she will remain in the hospital for less than a week and will need a year and a half to make a full recovery. at that point with a little luck, doctors say you won't tell the difference between the girl before and after she was shot. nick schifrin, abc news, birmingham, england. well the dream may be over in boca raton, florida. remember the squatter who moved into a mansion. she has been served eviction papers. a 23-year-old brazilian moved into the multimillion dollar waterfront pad just last month. he settled in claiming an old florida law gaining worldwide attention in the process. bank of america foreclosed on the property in july and filed a civil suit against barbosa last week. eviction n served papers but

process will take. and i guarantee you, it's because of all of the media coverage. >> of course. the respect, the bum has class. he didn't go for the cardboard box or subway grate. i need a mansion. >> waterfront. >> adverse possession. under it a squatter can claim the property if they live there seven years and pay taxes on it. 2012 taxes on the mansion $39,000. guessing he may not have. >> you know what? >> adverse possession has been around forever. you know? but he, it's interesting to me that he even knew about it. it is a bit obscure. you learn that first year in law school. >> he is smart. knew about it. >> i need to adversely possess real estate. >> aim high. aim high. violence storms slamming the east coast this morning after leaving the south and midwest in shambles. the giant system triggered two dozen tornado thousands. one of them slammed north thern georgia knocking out power, flipping over trucks and cars and damaging 100 homes.

one man was killed when a tree crushed his trailer. another man died in tennessee. >> rough few days for weather. with that take a look at today's weather. strong storms from atlanta to new england. some morning downpours for d.c. and here in the big apple. lake-effect snow from michigan to upstate new york. snow in the rockies and cascades. showers in the pacific northwest. >> 40s boise to albuquerque. subzero and single digits in the midwest with wind chills dipping to 50 below zero. 50s in the northeast. upper 70s in miami. i can't belief i just said 50 below zero with wind chill. >> no reason to voluntarily be anywhere that cold in life. ever. move. today. >> okay. we now present the star of this morning's broadcast. the mascot from western illinois university, rocky. >> rocky! rocky got excited the other day and ran right into the path of a back flipping cheerleader.

ricky must not have seen her in the costume. the girl was fine. bounced right back up. and rocky seemed fine too. he did some pushups, sit-ups, tried to make things look normal. good going, rocky. >> maybe his way of just trying. >> she flattened rocky out. >> maybe that was rocky's game. bump into her, thought she was cute. knock into her. >> not a good game. getting flattened out. >> like pulling your pig tails in kindergarten. we look you. >> wasn't a hot move, rocky. >> rocky has got game. i bet right now. the costume is still on. turning to a fortune teller for a super bowl pick. >> later, rihanna's tainted love story, explaining yes, why she is back together with chris brown. you are watching "world news now." ♪ hey how much i love you boy

>> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by lunesta. and lunesta®(eszopiclone) can help you get there. like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. lunesta should not be taken together with alcohol. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations, or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions such as tongue or throat swelling occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness, and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as fifteen dollars at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta.

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♪ ♪ >> the music from new orleans. i love it. i love it. going to have fun tomorrow on the show. getting ready for the super bowl. come back with us tomorrow. we have fun on friday. >> oh, yes. what do you get when you mix the super bowl and mardi gras in new

orleans? it is our "favorite story of the day." we both love new orleans. >> near and dear to my heart. always the you get a big party in the big easy right now. at the center of it all, a sibling rivalry between two head coaching brothers. but is their parents who are stealing the show. >> who has it better than us? >> nobody! >> nobody! >> reporter: meet the proudest parents on the planet, jack and jackie harbaugh. for their sons it is just another day at the office, as their two teams prepare for the biggest game of their lives. at 49ers practice, head coach jim harbaugh watched closely as he put his time to work. not too far away, harbaugh's brother, john, guided his baltimore ravens through their drills. but even tough as nails ray lewis found time to crack a joke. the harbaugh brothers will go head-to-head in what is being dubbed the harbowl. >> no one talks to anyone. jim is very quiet and guarded.

john is very quiet and guarded. that's exactly the way we wanted them. >> reporter: their mother she is more optimistic. >> this is like -- frosting on the cake for our whole family. >> reporter: odd makers have the 49ers favored by 3 1/2 points. but the super bowl is in new orleans, so if you want a prediction ask the expert at reverend zombie's house of voodoo. even then there is no clear answer. >> your regret is upside down. and their, their sorrow is side ways. i can't really say. but, i can say it looks -- you're looking pretty good. i would shore up the offense though. >> reporter: for new orleans all the super hype is business as usual on bourbon street. food, music, and of course, flying beads for mardi gras which this year shares the spotlight with the big game. the best of both world. >> you are not going to be able to walk. >> a lot of these people can't walk right now. >> that's because they're drunk.

>> ha-ha! new orleans spirit. let the good times roll. >> a reminder, send us your super bowl pictures. we want to see you in niners or ravens garb. >> the overnight show. okay to be risque. show your creativity, and maybe cleavage, video, whatever you have got, show them on the show tomorrow. find all e-mail information on the facebook, wnnfans.com. >> we have gotten some cleavage pictures from some fans. >> i would -- i would -- kbilly the tag name. he sent all his cleavage pictures. bartending friend. they were look all over the place. >> sent some good ones, kbilly's pals. >> i enjoyed them. >> you did! >> show team spirit. in overnight land. ravens/niners. tattoos, outfits, costumes

whatever you got. >> open to all that. >> have fun. eat well. get ready for the big game. for now, coming up next, rihanna's reunion. >> why she decided to go back to chris brown. you are watching "world news now." ♪

rihanna on the cover of tomorrow's edition of "rolling stone" her cover article is titled "crazy in love." >> because it is about her reunion with chris brown. despite evidence off to the contrary she says he is a changed man. here is abc's correspondent with more. ♪ i just want to be happy >> reporter: these days rihanna is happy in love and now opening up for the first time about her reunion with chris brown. in a new rolling stone interview, the mega star says she and brown are in a great place and she is not apologizing

for it. she says, i decided it was important for me to be happy and i wasn't going to let anybody's opinion get in the way of that. even if it's a mistake it's my mistake. it has been four years since that infamous night when brown left rihanna bloody and bruised. she described it to diane sawyer. >> he had no -- no soul in his eyes. just blank. he was clearly blacked out. there was no person when i looked at him. >> reporter: brown has been making headlines this week for an alleged brawl with singer frank ocean. but rihanna says he is a reh rehabilitated man. he made a mistake and paid his dues she says. he paid so much. sometimes people need support and encouragement instead of ridicule and criticism and bashing. the pop star says their relationship has changed for the better. it's different now. we don't have those types of arguments anymore.

we value each other. we know exactly what we have now, and we don't want to lose that. rihanna told rolling stone fans should not confuse her love for weakness. >> there is no third chances, if you walk away and have a problem with it. >> reporter: if if the happens again? that is just not an option rihanna says. i wouldn't be here if i didn't think chris was ready. just like the name of her newest album, rihanna truly is unapologetic. ♪ >> let's all hope for his and her sake he has changed and that there will not be a repeat incident. there will not be much sympathy for her if there is. >> he doesn't get a pass. a man doesn't get a pass on behavior like that. >> i don't disagree. >> i'm disappointed. >> she had to come to a gentle soul, gentle giant. >> you are a gentleman. you are of a gentleman. >> you know about that. >> he is a gentleman. >> take a little lesson from

tina turner. maybe things get rough, get out of there. >> get out of there. >> she got to roll out. proud mary style. intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved for use as needed in the middle of the night when you can't get back to sleep. it's an effective sleep medicine you don't take before bedtime. take it in bed only when you need it and have at least four hours left for sleep. do not take intermezzo if you have had an allergic reaction to drugs containing zolpidem, such as ambien. allergic reactions such as shortness of breath or swelling of your tongue or throat may occur and may be fatal. intermezzo should not be taken if you have taken another sleep medicine at bedtime or in the middle of the night or drank alcohol that day. do not drive or operate machinery until at least 4 hours after taking intermezzo and you're fully awake. driving, eating, or engaging in other activities while not fully awake without remembering the event the next day have been reported.

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this next story, dead kadic to everyone in the tv news business. a live shot, there is a moron in the background. jumping, waving. everybody in tv has been through this. you have probably seen it at home. it is annoying and distracting. there was a reporter from wkng, orlando, in new orleans, bourbon street, some drunk person on bourbon street, came up tried to get on camera. lack how brilliantly the reporter handled it. >> what is left is people walking around with a glazed look in their eyes. like this one behind me. hi, yes, how are you doing? >> california.

>> very nice to meet you. >> 49ers. >> you are going to do an interview with us? >> sure. >> we are just talking about here on bourbon street, the std rate going on here, how long a? >> i don't have an std. >> why did you want to talk? >> my goodness, that was masterfully handled. i have never seen another reporter handle it that well. and embarrass that girl. had a beer in her hand. brilliantly handles. that, that, reporter will appreciate that moment. she totally, got the girl, get out of my live shot. much love to wkng in orlando. going to follow that girl on twitter. i have respect for how she handled that. >> next, men sometimes feel they will get love and affection from their women if they help around the house and do house chores. a study, no, no, no. apparently women sort of find it

not so sexy when men are helping them with their house chores and doing house work and cleaning around. and they get less sex if they do it. >> oh. >> men, don't, i guess don't help out in that way. some women will find you less masculine and less sexy. >> less sex for some domestic chores. but more if something like handy work and fixing stuff that kind of thing. >> i guess that follows, yes. >> i'm saying if you do the laundry that is not sexy. putting a new roof on. difference in the work. >> maybe. doesn't say that. yeah. yeah, more traditionally masculine jobs. like home repair. >> nothing wrong with that. got to keep the pipes clean. ha-ha. also, new thing out there now, getting into perfume for babies. babies always smell good. when they're not full, you know what i mean? >> delicious. >> apparently many brands are doing this. b burbury, dolce and

this morning on "world news now" -- nature's rampage. storms more common in springtime tear through the south with a vengeance during the middle of winter. >> tornado's deadly consequences, extremely powerful winds and widespread damage. it is thursday, january 31st. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." happy friday eve, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> i'm sunny hostin. the dangerous wind from that storm could turn the morning commute hazardous today for millions. we'll have the latest on that. it is remarkable the weather. >> oh, yeah. >> 60 degrees in new york. >> balmy now in new york. by the time we get out to go home after the show it will be a blizzard outside again.

so it's been a wild ride. dead of winter. got to love it. >> another major headline, the hostage drama in alabama. in the middle of it all a little boy, 6 years old stuck in an underground bunker. this is just remarkable, this little boy taken off a school bus. the bus driver shot and killed. and the little boy is still being held hostage. >> 5 years old going through an ordeal. wait till you hear the background on the suspect in the case what he was known in the neighborhood for. very scary character. just say that. this morning, highly paid baseball player in the middle of a federal drug investigation. the new serious allegations, a-rod is facing. and the big money at stake. first lance armstrong. now getting into a-rod. king of the yankees. there are no more heroes, folks. he is denying it. it doesn't look good now. >> it doesn't. later the mastermind of the

embarrassing manti t'eo hoax reveals his true motive. the jaw-dropping details are coming up in "the skinny." you must stay tuned for that. the details are truly jaw-dropping. not to say i didn't call it though. >> you and millions of others. we had this discussion earlier in the week about the, the hoaxer's motives perhaps more questionable than the hoaxee's. what he admitted to dr. phil kind of clears a lot of things up. stay tuned to that for sure. first the killer storms threatening the east coast this morning. after trouncing the south and midwest. two people so far are dead. >> as many as two dozen tornados have touched down. the winds so fast and furious they derailed a freight train in missouri, blowing 50 cars off the tracks. coverage begins with abc's larry jacobs. >> reporter: a trail of debris stretching as far as the eye can see in this town about an hour north of atlanta. again, a funnel just crossing the interstate here.

for 20 minutes an f-2 tornado with wind estimated at 125 miles an hour demolished homes and businesses and pulled down power lines. >> there was no warnings from no sirens, no nothing. >> i was so scared it just picked me up and slinged me three times. >> reporter: cars littered roads, and the twister pecked up 18-wheelers and tossed them around like toys. >> i couldn't believe it picked my truck up and flipped it over lick that. i mean, i can't believe it. >> reporter: one person was killed in georgia. another death reported in tennessee when a tree fell on a shed where a man sought shelter. tornados there packed winds up to 115 miles an hour causing more misery. in indiana, a storm system left thousands in the dark and destroyed dozens of homes. >> didn't know if i would make it or not. >> reporter: extreme weather marching across the country brought heavy rains and flooding to other areas. strong winds blew through north carolina. look what the wind did to this

police helicopter in pennsylvania. larry jacobs, abc news, new york. >> what a mess around a large swath of the country. beside the destructive wind, part of the storm system is dumping snow in some pretty large amounts. >> snow fell on wide areas of the midwest. it was so windy, roads drifted shut. this morning that storm is hitting the most populated areas of the country. let's get the latest from meteorologist jim dicky at accuweather. good morning. >> good morning. thankfully the storm that caused all the trouble, the past couple days, that's departing out to sea. across the northeast here, wind shifting out of the north and west behind the front. temperatures will tumble through the afternoon. many spots this morning in the 50s. by the time the sun sets. 20s and 30s. wind will be gusting through the day, causing widespreader use, especially at the airports. gusts to 60 miles per hour. across the northeast into new england. and that is a chilly air mass. arctic air firmly entrenched in the upper midwest. this is the cold air moving in. right now. your daytime high in bismarck, minus 12. hold at zero in minneapolis.

and pierre. as the cold air moves over the lakes looking for lake-effect snow. rob, sunny, back to you. >> thanks, jim. now to the hostage standoff in rural alabama. and the waiting game. last night, dozens gathered about a mile from where a man is holding a 6-year-old boy captive to pray for a safe resolution. police say it started tuesday afternoon when the man, jimmy lee, killed the bus driver before taking the boy hostage. a neighbor calls him paranoid and violent. >> i kept saying that this -- it's -- you know if a man can -- can kill a dog, beat it with a lead pipe and brag about having done it, then it's, it's nothing until -- until it is going to be people. >> the bunker where the boy is being held is said to have electricity, food and television.

authorities say the boy has received medicine. >> frightening ordeal. new momentum this morning toward immigration reform. a bipartisan group from the house is working on legislation similar to proposals by senate negotiators and president obama. the ground breaking measure could be unveiled within days. president obama says he would like the whole process wrapped up in six months. >> it has been too long since we reformed the system. and we are starting to see a bipartisan consensus build around this. >> florida republican lawmaker mario diaz-ballard said he felt a huge sea change on the issue from both parties. certainly -- we talked about this all week, changing demographics in the country made this possible. they're going to get something done. certainly see action more easily and quickly on this than you will on gun control. >> of course the latino voting bloc. everyone came out in droves. if you are the republican party you have got to be concerned about that. you have to somehow change your message to attract that group of voters. the message before the election

was, you know, let's shore up our borders. let's not worry about, immigration reform. and now we are hearing a different message. >> mitt romney talking self-deportation, mixed messages from his campaign, where he stood. all pretty interesting. president obama made it clear if congress doesn't act i will send my own bill up there and get something done. there definitely seems to be some determination to get something done. >> and on both sides of the aisle. >> exactly. nice to see one -- one issue with bipartisanship. nice to see, an issue the country talked about for decades. >> john kerry's senate seat has been filled now he is confirmed as next secretary of state. massachusetts governor patrick appointed former chief of staff, william cowen. cowen will serve in the senate until june's election. for kerry's permanent replacement. it is the first time in history there will be two african-americans serving in the senate.

the other tim scott of south carolina. >> impressive diversity gains in the congress, all kind, women, african-americans. so very interesting. >> toyota is recalling more than 1 million cars because of two different safety defects. 907,000 toyota corolla and matrix models are being recalled because of faulty airbags. between 2001 and 2004. nearly 400,000 lexus-is cars sold over the past six years may have defective wipers. they get stuck during heavy snowfall. toyota will make the repairs as always for free. new generation of the blackberry has been unveiled with a touch screen designed to rival its competitors including the iphone. the new blackberries come with a new operating system. one version due out in march will have a touch screen. another version on sale a month later will have a physical keyboard. alicia keyes, my ex-girlfriend has been named creative director. the company officially changed

the name from research in motion to blackberry. the name change, makes sense, nobody called it research in motion. everyone said blackberry. >> i may give that a try. i was a huge blackberry fan. then after the keyboard. >> the keyboard is too small. >> the issue it blacked out. i was done. then i was done. >> i've don't like it. >> i lost so much information, data, after three days. i gave up. i may give it another chance. >> i will do whatever alicia tells me to do. >> exactly. >> that girl is on. ♪ fire >> i am the mother of two. i will say god bless these parents. on monday, viviana and emannuel eberly of wisconsin were welcomed into the world by their parents curtis and vicky. >> easy for curtis and vicky to remember the birthday. because at home they have another set of twins, get this who were born on the same exact day, two years ago. but at least they have some unpaid help at home. the couple has a 7, 5, and 3-year-old.

god bless that family. >> very. >> full house. >> ambitious. >> yeah. >> at least you have to have one birthday party for four kids. >> yeah, you consolidate. >> yeah. that's -- they're all under age 7 then. >> fertility not a problem in that household. >> not at all. >> the boys are swimming. coming up next, a real-life medical drama for a star known for his x-rated movies. >> later -- cats kill birds. we all know that. how many birds? a number that may astound even the most loyal cat lovers. you are watching "world news now." ♪ meow-meow-meow ♪ meow-meow-meow >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by consumer cellular. by consumer cellular. how far will people go to relieve their sore throat?

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could alex rodriguez be the lance armstrong of baseball. the sport's highest paid player confessed to using performance enhancing drugs but said he stopped ten years ago. >> a report by a miami newspaper claims he used them more recently than that. the dea is looking into it all. here's abc's bob woodruff. >> reporter: they are one of the greatest teams in sports, he was on track to become the best in baseball. so the yankees signed alex rodriguez, a-rod to a ten-year contract worth $275 million. the biggest in history. >> numbers were just mind-boggling. people thought his career is

set. this guy is going to walk into cooperstown, as the greatest of all time. >> reporter: the yankees paid a-rod $30 million last year alone. that's more than $238,000 per game, $234,000 per hit, and each home run, a whopping $1.6 million. his prowess on the field, often overshadowed by his prowess off. the blue eyes, charming the likes of cameron diaz, kate hudson, even madonna, as red sox fans gleefully mocked. but now it all could be falling apart. rodriguez is facing new accusations of using performance enhancing drugs. major league baseball is investigating. and sources tell espn, the yankees want a-rod out. >> his production -- >> reporter: rodriguez long accused of using steroids. see how he bulked up over the years. he finally came clean in 2009.

>> i did take a banned substance. and you know for that i am very sorry. and deeply regretful. >> reporter: a-rod insisted he stopped doping back in 2004 and he has always been clean as a yankee. his spokesman repeating the claim as new charges swirl. but he has got another $114 million left on that mega contract. which is why the yankees may be looking for ways out of this troubled marriage. bob woodruff, abc news, new york. >> what another spectacular fall from grace that could be. wow. coming up next, breaking right now. a sex scandal involving a very famous nfl star. >> and excuses, excuses, from lindsay lohan. that's coming up next in "the skinny." >> announcer: "world news now" continues after this from our abc stations.

♪ skinny so skinny >> skinny in the house! >> pretty good. >> willis is here in case you didn't notice. >> yeah. >> all right, manti t'eo, talking about this a long time. this kid everybody seems a little bit obsessed with. the guy behind it all, the hoaxer, who kind of obviously duped manti, tuiasosopo, i think i said that right this time. >> ronaiah tuiasosopo. >> you say it better. on dr. phil's show. will air thursday or friday. they released a clip of what he

said during the in the view -- the interview. the bottom line, the guy is saying he did this all because he fell in love with manti. according to dr. phil. here we have a young man that fell deeply romantically in love. i asked him straight up, was this a romantic relationship with you. he says yes. i said, are you therefore gay. he said when you put it that way, yes. then he caught himself, and said, quote, i am confused. that is what you will hear during the interview. a clip has been released. >> why did you end this relationship? >> there were many times where they had broken up before, but every time that, either i would try to end it or he would, he would, it's like -- they would break up and then something would bring them back together whether it was something in his life or in case my life. >> 22 years old. obviously confused. says he fell in love with manti. >> bizarre he is talking about this as if she existed. it's him.

>> it is bizarre. now we are getting, at least getting psychological clarity on what was going on there. interesting. >> manti t'eo is a handsome guy. i could see how someone may fall for him. >> you and tuiasosopo -- >> breaking news this morning too. >> yes, keeping with the football theme. hot and juicy. everybody knows dan marino, ex-quarterback, for the dolphins, squeaky clean image. inducted into the hall of fame in 2005. had an affair. >> according to an article in "the post" this morning. >> according to "the post" had an affair with a 35-year-old production assistant at cbs sports where he was a pregame analyst. and still is an analyst for cbs. her name, the woman, donna sabatire. they had a baby girl named chloe, born in june 2005. two months before his hall of

fame induction. he paid her to be quiet. millions of dollars. he admitted to his wife, admitted yesterday, to this affair on his 28th wedding anniversary with his wife. >> he has a big role in the super bowl. have to wonder will cbs yank him or not. >> dan, dan, dan. >> always was a prolific scorer. also, lindsay lohan, back in the news again. apparently another court date. here in new york. then she tried to get out of it saying she was sick. seen over the weekend smoking cigarettes and shopping. kind of weird. take a look at what the judge said sarcastically. >> i love this judge. >> there was some drama concerning her attendance today. we do -- with due respect to the court. >> glad to see you are feeling better? >> thank you. >> indicated an upper respiratory condition. and he felt -- >> is that like a cold? a cold? >> yes. >> yeah, lindsay. >> the judge said, glad you are feeling better. all very sarcastic. so -- ouch. >> send good wishes to ron

jeremy. >> the adult star had a heart aneurysm. may not be looking good. thoughts and prayers with him. we'll be back. thoughts and prayers with him. we'll be back. [ female announcer ] what does the anti-aging power of olay total effects plus the perfecting color of a bb cream equal? introducing the newest beauty trend. total effects cc cream c for color. c for correction. [ female announcer ] fight 7 signs of aging flawlessly. cc what's possible.

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♪ ♪ ♪ meow-meow-meow-meow ♪ meow-meow-meow-meow ♪ meow-meow-meow-meow [ laughter ] >> sorry. >> we know -- we do know that all people fall into one of two camps. either a dog person or cat person. cat people, listen up. >> uh-huh. a new study finds that cats are killing machines. far deadlier than any of us ever imagined. abc's resident cat lover, dan harris, has the frightening details. >> reporter: in the age of youtube, they play patty cake, they're stuck in sleeves, and even in this viral video i made with the apsca, fly.

but do not be fooled by all this alleged innocence. reality might be closer to this. behind the adorable exterior lurks lethal intent. the serial killer purring in your lap. you will never look at fluffy the same. ben johnson voices trailers for movies. we wrote that for him. but it turns out it is all true. we all know cats eat birds. what stunned scientists behind this week's new study when you do thorough sleuthing on cats it turns out they're four times more vicious than previously imagined. every year they kill 12.3 billion mammals, like chipmunks and 2.4 billion birds, a feeding frenzy endangering rare birds. why? because the number of stray cats has exploded. and it turns out felines are much deadlier than we knew. >> he is the cutest serial killer you will ever meet. >> reporter: amy watts thought

she knew her cat booker t, when scientists put a camera on the kitty it captured carnage. the new numbers took me by surprise too. i never thought my wife and i were harboring three cold-blooded killers in our own home. but it is a real problem. a human problem. experts say we are the reason the cat population has exploded and we all have to do a better job of keeping them inside. >> dan, you will never look at your cats, steve, gus, and whoopi, the same. >> reporter: maybe not. thanks, ben. dan harris, abc news, new york. >> i knew there was a reason i never liked cats. >> i love cats. look they eat birds. bird are tasty. we eat birds. >> see, look. second later that thing gouged my eyes out and robbed my house. >> they're wonderful. they're independent. spirited. i love cats. i had a cat for 20 years. cleo. cleo. >> cat is probably on death row now. we'll be back. >> announcer: this is abc's "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades.